Describe at least 5 insights, epiphanies, reframes (big or little) you had about project. Please include what led you to these i.e. what fun stuff you did to uncover them?
I discovered that making a successful prototype requires all the members' cooperation, and cannot just be a "one man show"- I discovered this when we were making our project and how if we all went our own way it took more time. If one of the team members are fooling around, then this sets the whole team back- not just one person, therefore strong leadership is required. Also, getting overexcited about an idea can lead you to false conclusions and waste time, for example, debating over the materials to slide our floors with. Another main insight I had about the project was that having a positive outlook often gets the job done.
How did you work as a team?
We worked well together except for when we had to decide on the materials on which to "slide" on the floor. We figured out that we have to compromise our ideas to get the job done.
What was your best/worst team experience?
Our best team experience was when we figured out what materials worked best together
When was your team process strong?
Once we actually started to build our prototype.
What would you do differently next time?
We would spend less time arguing about the materials and the methods and spend more time on doing.
Empathy6th Grader: Hannah
1. How do get to school?
I take the bus, and it helped me make new friends.
2. When was there a time when you didn't want to ride the bus?
I thought it would be a stinky, old bus at first, but it's ok now.
3. How do you feel about the non-academy kids?
They are good people and are pretty nice.
4. How is the homework load?
I have 1-2 hours of work, but it is pretty manageable.
5. What clubs do you do?
I do Poetry Club in the mornings.
6. Is there anything you want to change about Middle School?
I feel I would like longer breaks between classes.
7. Is there any idea you want to put in to place.
I wish that my grades would get back to me faster.
8. Is there a specific time between classes that makes you feel stressed?
It is difficult and stressful when I drop stuff.
Define
1. She wanted more time between classes
2. She thought dropping stuff in the hallway was difficult
3. She wished she could get her grades back immediately.
We think the most significant challenge for her was the breaks from class to class.
We chose this problem because it was the easiest to solve. It will solve the biggest problem for the most people because it will allow all the sixth graders who are having problems with time between classes can slide around with less exposure to friction.
Ideate
Piggy-backer - An attachment that allowed you to cling on to other people's backs as they walk. Because some people may walk faster than her she could simply exploit their "talent" and not risk being late to class.
"Fire Alarm" - An exact recording of a fire alarm that would make people want to exit the building, giving her easy access to her teacher's class.
Shirt squirter - A shirt with hidden water sprayers that would squirt out water, and therefore keep all the kids away from you, since they would not want to come near the water
Zipliner - She would zipline above her classmates, therefore eliminating crowds and increasing time efficiency.
Carpet Shoes - This invention would allow Hannah to slide around the school without running and decreasing the effects of friction, getting her to classes faster and more efficiently, solving her problem.
All of these inventions would allow Hannah to get to her classes more efficiently, but Hannah chose the carpet shoes because they were realistic and were a cool idea.
Prototype
Our first prototype/failure
Our second prototype. Success!
Feedback 1. What is your favorite part of our solution?
I like that its a fun, fast, and more efficient way to travel through the halls. 2. What would you like to be different?
I think that the shoes could have a better grip so they aren't as slippery, and also a better way to keep them on your feet. 3. Why did you pick this solution over the others?
I thought that it was simple, easy to use, realistic, and I really wanted to slide through the halls! 4. How does our version of the solution compare to what you were expecting?
When I saw "carpet shoes", I thought that actual carpet would be on them, but I feel that the fabric works better. 5. What do you think of our use of materials?
I like that you used light materials, and I'm amazed that you can make something like this out of very little. 6. Overall, what do you think of our design?
I think that it is an awesome invention, but the changes to the grip and to the attachment would make it even better.
Hannah told us that the bottoms of the shoes were slippery, so we added a grip.
Discussion Questions
- Describe at least 5 insights, epiphanies, reframes (big or little) you had about project. Please include what led you to these i.e. what fun stuff you did to uncover them?
- I discovered that making a successful prototype requires all the members' cooperation, and cannot just be a "one man show"- I discovered this when we were making our project and how if we all went our own way it took more time. If one of the team members are fooling around, then this sets the whole team back- not just one person, therefore strong leadership is required. Also, getting overexcited about an idea can lead you to false conclusions and waste time, for example, debating over the materials to slide our floors with. Another main insight I had about the project was that having a positive outlook often gets the job done.
- How did you work as a team?
- We worked well together except for when we had to decide on the materials on which to "slide" on the floor. We figured out that we have to compromise our ideas to get the job done.
- What was your best/worst team experience?
- Our best team experience was when we figured out what materials worked best together
- When was your team process strong?
- Once we actually started to build our prototype.
- What would you do differently next time?
- We would spend less time arguing about the materials and the methods and spend more time on doing.
Empathy6th Grader: Hannah- 1. How do get to school?
- I take the bus, and it helped me make new friends.
- 2. When was there a time when you didn't want to ride the bus?
- I thought it would be a stinky, old bus at first, but it's ok now.
- 3. How do you feel about the non-academy kids?
- They are good people and are pretty nice.
- 4. How is the homework load?
- I have 1-2 hours of work, but it is pretty manageable.
- 5. What clubs do you do?
- I do Poetry Club in the mornings.
- 6. Is there anything you want to change about Middle School?
- I feel I would like longer breaks between classes.
- 7. Is there any idea you want to put in to place.
- I wish that my grades would get back to me faster.
- 8. Is there a specific time between classes that makes you feel stressed?
- It is difficult and stressful when I drop stuff.
DefineIdeate
- Piggy-backer - An attachment that allowed you to cling on to other people's backs as they walk. Because some people may walk faster than her she could simply exploit their "talent" and not risk being late to class.
- "Fire Alarm" - An exact recording of a fire alarm that would make people want to exit the building, giving her easy access to her teacher's class.
- Shirt squirter - A shirt with hidden water sprayers that would squirt out water, and therefore keep all the kids away from you, since they would not want to come near the water
- Zipliner - She would zipline above her classmates, therefore eliminating crowds and increasing time efficiency.
- Carpet Shoes - This invention would allow Hannah to slide around the school without running and decreasing the effects of friction, getting her to classes faster and more efficiently, solving her problem.
All of these inventions would allow Hannah to get to her classes more efficiently, but Hannah chose the carpet shoes because they were realistic and were a cool idea.Prototype
Feedback
1. What is your favorite part of our solution?
I like that its a fun, fast, and more efficient way to travel through the halls.
2. What would you like to be different?
I think that the shoes could have a better grip so they aren't as slippery, and also a better way to keep them on your feet.
3. Why did you pick this solution over the others?
I thought that it was simple, easy to use, realistic, and I really wanted to slide through the halls!
4. How does our version of the solution compare to what you were expecting?
When I saw "carpet shoes", I thought that actual carpet would be on them, but I feel that the fabric works better.
5. What do you think of our use of materials?
I like that you used light materials, and I'm amazed that you can make something like this out of very little.
6. Overall, what do you think of our design?
I think that it is an awesome invention, but the changes to the grip and to the attachment would make it even better.